544 SYSTE3IA TIC SYNOPSIS. — liAPTOBES — A CCIPITBES. 



species, variously interpreted by writers. Different " black hawks" have been called " ftor- 

 ia«i," such as the nielanistic phases of both borealis and swainsoni, and harlani has been 

 supposed to be nt>t different from borealis. A few specimens in the Smithsonian Institution, 

 identified with Audubon's bird by Mr. liidgway, agree sufficiently with the plate and description, 

 and the alleged species niay, for the present, stand upon its own demerits. 

 516. B. borealis. (Lat. borealis, northern. Fig. 380.) IvEd-tailed Buzzard. " Hen Hawk." 

 Adult (J 9 '• Upper surface of tail rich chestnut, with white tip and usually a black subterminal 

 zone, with or without other narrower and more or less imperfect black bars; sometimes 

 barred throughout. From below, the tail appears pearly whitish with a reddish tinge, either 

 quite uniform, or barred throughout with the whitish and blackish. In general, it is the 9 

 with the most barred or completely barred tail, the <J with the unifonn tail, only subter- 

 minally once- zoned. Upper parts blackish-brown, with a thoroughly indeterminate amount 

 of light variegation, gray, fulvous, and whitish ; feathers of hind head and nape with cottony 

 white bases, showing when disturbed; those of hind neck usually with fulvous edging; of 



Fig. 380. —Red-tailed Buzzard, nat size (Ad nat del E C.) 



scapular region showing most variegation with tawny or whitish, or both, the scapulars and 

 adjoining feathers being largely barred, and only blackish on their exposed portions; upper 

 tail-coverts showing much tawoiy and white. Ground color of under parts white, more or less 

 buff-toned, the dark color of the upper parts reaching nearly or quite around the throat, the 

 flanks and lower belly heavily marked wnth dark brown or blackish, but a large pectoral area, 

 with the tibiae and crissum, mostly free from markings, as a rule; but no description will 

 cover the latitude of coloration. Primaries blackening on their exposed portions, for the rest 

 lighter grayish-brown, dark-barred across both webs, and extensively white-areated on inner 

 webs basally. Length of ^ 19.00-22.00; extent about 48.00; wing 13.50-16.50; tail 8.50 

 -10.00 ; tarsus 2.50-3.00, feathered half-way down in front. 9 larger ; length 21.00-24.00 ; 

 extent about 56.00 ; wing 14.50-17.50; tail 9.50-10.00. ^ 9, young: General character of 

 the upper parts the same as in the adult, but less variegated, and that chiefly with whitish and 

 buff, instead of grayish and fulvous ; upper tail-coverts more regularly haired with dark and 

 white. Tail entirely different, without any shade of red; light gray, with numerous (G-10) 

 regular dark bars, and narrow white tips ; the gray gradually yields to the chestnut shade 



